Updated oil suppliers’ database to be released this month

The 2018 database was supposed to be concluded in December last year, but complications arising from a switch to online submissions have delayed the process.

The 2018 database was supposed to be concluded in December last year, but complications arising from a switch to online submissions have delayed the process.

KAMAPALA - The updated National Suppliers’ Database (NSD) for companies hoping to do business in the growing oil and gas industry is set to be released at the end of the month.

The 2018 database was supposed to be concluded in December last year, but complications arising from a switch to online submissions have delayed the process.

“The process of verification is still ongoing. We have extended the process up to the end of the month,” Betty Namubiru, the national content manager at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) said at a Kingfisher project workshop organised by China Offshore Oil Engineering Company (COOEC) and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Uganda.

Initially, the system was manual.

More than 1,500 companies have applied to be on the 2018 database and so far 927 have qualified. The 2017 database had 513 companies out of 700 applications.

Namubiru also revealed that a special window will be opened in March for some companies to apply to get onto the database, which is updated every year.

“We have received requests from companies who are prospecting, but are not registered. Arrangements are underway to open a window, at least for a month, to give them a chance to register,” she said.

However, Namubiru said the policy to update the database once every year will continue as it takes a lot of time to do due-diligence on companies.

“The qualification goes through a verification process. For the local companies, we go to the Uganda Registration Services Bureau to ascertain their authenticity. We also go to the Uganda Revenue Authority to check the tax stand and to the National Social Security Fund to ensure that they meet their obligations,” she said.

“For the foreign firms, we use the missions and embassies to verify their existence in their respective countries.”

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda is required by the Petroleum Exploration Development and Production Act of 2013 to publish a database of companies engaged in petroleum activities in the country.